The Seven Churches of Revelation, Part 3

The Church at Smyrna was in the midst of much suffering in their city, and they were trying to persevere as Christ followers. Jesus was very aware of the landscape of their world and lives, just as he is aware of our current trials and hardships in our cultural context. More trials are coming, but he commands us to be faithful.

Center My Life
Austin Stone Worship

No Body
Elevation Worship

Heart of God
Hillsong Young & Free

Revelation 2:8-11
“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.

–

Revelation 2:8
“These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.”

–

Revelation 1:17-18
“Don’t be afraid, I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever!”

–

1. I know your afflictions.

–

2. I know your poverty.

–

Luke 12:20-21
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

–

3. I know about the slander.

–

Revelation 2:10
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days.

–

4. I know there is future persecution.

–

Sometimes testing comes to prove your faith in God and sometimes testing comes to improve your faith in God.

–

Revelation 2:10
Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

–

Revelation 2:11
The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.

–

Revelation 20:11-15
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

–